Comparisons to Utah easy but misleading
boulder » For college football fans and analysts, it’s a natural to compare Colorado and Utah. Both schools joined the Pac-12 before the 2011 season.
Thus far, the scales tip heavily in favor of Utah. Since becoming amember of the Pac-12, Utah has compiled a four-year record of 25-23 entering Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at Colorado. The Utes (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) have notched 13 conference victories during that span.
Colorado (2-9, 0-8) has a four-year record of 1038, with a total of four wins against Pac-12 foes.
When asked Tuesday if it is fair to compare Utah andColorado, Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said CU entered the Pac-12 under much different circumstances than Utah. Colorado already is on its second coach since joining the conference, while Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is completing his 10th seasonas headcoachandhad been an assistant coach with the Utes for 11 years before that.
“Utah has had tremendous stability,” MacIntyre said.
MacIntyre also pointed out thatUtahwon10 games (10-3) in 2010, the Utes’ final year in the Mountain West. Colorado won half that many games (5-7) — albeit as a member of the more demanding Big 12.
“Utah has had what I would call a top-25 pro- gram for a while now,” MacIntyre said. “To me, they’re not even close to (the situation) thatwe are with rebuilding. They were established and ready to go (when joining the Pac-12).”
MacIntyre added: “They’re a very good football teamwith their stability and facilities and their support. I think theywere ahead of where Colorado was when (the Buffs) joined the Pac-12.”
“People are absolutely going to compare” Colorado with Utah, CU senior offensive guard Kaiwi Crabb said. “It is slightly frustrating. But it’s not necessarily just Utah. There are other teams in the Pac-12 that have made huge strides.
“Props to Utah. They’re a great team. They have great players offensively and defensively. The strength of thewhole Pac12 is an incentive for us to get going. The Pac-12 is a tough conference. I think we’ve improved, but we have to rampit up another level.”
Footnotes.
MacIntyre said the starting quarterback decision— Sefo Liufau or Jordan Gehrke — will be made Wednesday. … InjuredCUsenior safety Jered Bell will apply to the NCAAfor a rare sixth year, MacIntyre said. Bell was lost for the season with a knee injury in August.